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most likely they are JD ’ s. ”
    “ What do you mean? What kind of emotions ? ” Max asked. “ Like happiness or love? ” Did JD have a girlfriend? Max hadn ’ t thought about that.
    “ We usually see this happen with emotions like fear and depression. These are much stronger than people realize, and they can rob a person of so much. Since these emotions have never really dominated you, at least not like they have JD, be prepared. They can suck the will to live out of you if you let them take hold. ”
    Max wasn ’ t worried. He believed the best way to beat depression was to exercise. And as for fear, he couldn ’ t remember the last time he feared anything .  He had confidence in his abilities. He ’ d help JD if it killed him.
    “ Come along, Max. It ’ s time. ”
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Max rolled over, a groan pouring out his raw throat.
    “ Sweetie, are you in there? ” A cool hand wiped at his brow. He didn ’ t recognize the voice, but somehow he knew he loved whoever it was. He peeled his eyelids back, coming face to face with a thin woman and stringy brown hair . Deep lines etched her face. She obviously hadn ’ t had an easy life.
    “ Hello, sleepy head. ” The woman smiled and kissed his forehead. Her kiss brought a flood of memories to Max. He ’ d agreed to come here in JD ’ s place.  He ’ d been asked to help him . . . by an angel. Gabriel. It seemed surreal and yet very real at the same time. Max forced himself upright. Every bone in his body protested. It almost took more energy than he had. JD ’ s mother adjusted his pillows as she filled him in on the accident, giving him no more details than Gabe had. “You’ve been out of it for over a week now.”
    “ So M -mom, ” the word tasted foreign on his tongue. “ When can I go home? ” He lifted his arm to brush the hair from his eyes, it weighed a ton.
    “ I think we should start with Jell-O first, ” Mel grinned.  She pulled the brown table around from the foot of the bed and slid it in front of Max, handing him a spoon. He leered down at the food.
    “ I can ’ t eat. My head is killing me. ” He gingerly laid his head back against the bed ’ s rock hard headboard.
    “ That may have something to do with flying through a windshield. ” She shook her head at Max. “ Tim is pretty mad at you for wrecking the car. I didn ’ t even know you could drive a stick. Some mother I am. ” Max cringed at the name Tim . Since he knew little of the man, he assumed the feelings were JD ’ s , and Tim wasn ’ t a favorite of his.
    “ Do you think I can have some aspirin ? My head really hurts. ”
    “ Sure thing, sweetie. I ’ ll get the nurse. ”
    Max slid down under the covers since sitting up proved to be a mistake. He tugged the scratchy sheet up over his pounding head, wanting nothing more than to go back to sleep. Staying awake took too much effort.
    “ Hello, I ’ m Detective McKay with the Port Fare Police Department. ” Max ’ s dull senses snapped to attention. He pulled the sheet down, to see Emma ’ s father standing a t the foot of his hospital bed. Marty McKay was an imposing man, all six-foot-four inches of him. He had a large bushy mustache and piercing blue eyes, like Emma’s.
    “ Hello, sir. How ’ s Emma doing? ” Sitting up, his head pound ed in protest . Max about swallowed his tongue at his faux pas. Stupid, stupid !
    “ You know my daughter? ” Mr. McKay held out his hand and warmly shook Max ’ s.
    “ Ah, not really, no. ” Max fidgeted as he tried to cover his tracks. “ I ’ ve seen her at school, you know, cheering, and I ’ ve seen you pick her up after school while I waited for the bus. I know she and Max were dating. I just wondered how she was doing with hi m being gone and all. ” Max still couldn ’ t bring himself to say dead. He laid his head back down. Where ’ s Mel with something for this pain?
    “ Son, are you alright? ” Mr. McKay stepp ed closer.
    “ Yes. I ’